A good day to go back to bed

It has been overcast and rainy-at times finding us in a downpour-since the weekend.

Many of you likely need rain as much as we do, we are thankful!

Well, that is, except for all my friends in Florida! Stay safe gang!!

Today is going to be another dark and rainy day.

Other than laundry, I need to find some things for us to do around here.

Right now, the kids are upstairs in the middle of a make-believe scenario, so I won't interrupt them just yet. I took them to see "Journey To The Center of The Earth" on Monday, so they are working their scenes between that and "Water Horse" which we have on dvd now.

Nothing like having a 6 year old American daughter roaming around your house with a British accent!

Anyway, I think we will do a science project and make a mini birdhouse.

Then maybe I can convince them to take a rest break while Mommy reads her new book!



I won the book from Jen over at The Wilson Six!

Thanks Jen! I have already read the first two chapters! I didn't realize how much I was in the mood for a good non-thinking read!

A cozy bed sounds good about now!

Stacey

p.s. If you haven't seen either of those movies, I recommend them both!

A Boomer Sooner Birthday!

He probably even forgot it was his birthday because all of this craziness has started.


He is a die-hard fan!

He has the memorabilia AND the ticket stubs AND the logged mileage to prove it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dad and Grandpa!

And of course,

GO

Love,
Stacey & kids

Gremlins stole my pillow!

We are having some sleep issues around here!

She started having some sleep fears last year. Remember the whole sleeping with all the lights on thing?

Then, over the course of months that my husband lived out of town during the week, I may have cultivated a bigger problem.

We are not family bed people, but I allowed some co-sleeping during that time.

Some nights, it was for basic survival after a long day with two kids. It got dark early and I took full advantage of getting the kids asleep early as well. Other nights, it was a bit of pure selfishness on my part. Getting them both asleep at the same time allowed me the time I needed to regroup for the next day.

It actually all started the night our furnace wasn't working and it was COLD! We all snuggled together in mommy's bed!

They sure did make great bed-warmers by the time I went to sleep!!

And all those nights I have accidentally fallen asleep while laying down with my daughter at bedtime?

Yea, that probably doesn't help much either.

None of it happened every night. But I guess it happened enough.

This was the morning scene from our bedroom a couple of weeks ago.

He apparently came to our bed some time in the night. I only vaguely remember suddenly losing sleeping space. Apparently, she took her place quietly on the floor some time later in the night. She has finally learned NOT to wake her daddy after making several trips downstairs to our room since we moved in. She is having some new fears about sleeping upstairs by herself.


Oh look! He is waking up.


"Go away Mommy!"

Back up again.

"Don't take my picture!"

Oblivious.

"What is all that noise?!"

"Do I have to get up?"

"I need some coffee."


OK, she doesn't need any coffee! But I certainly did!

Stacey

Final Notice

It hit me like a ton of bricks a few nights ago.

One week from today, I will send my daughter away to the big house.

First grade!

It is not the idea of first grade so much. Although Kindergarten is so much more than it used to be, it still had me in the "she's my little girl" mode.

For us, it is the fact that she will be heading off to school each day of the week. All day. It is BIGGER in so many ways-where they learn, where they eat, where they play.

And by "us", I am referring to me. The other half of "us" thinks it is about time she was in school all day like everyone else. Ugh!

I have talked about my love of our previous school before. But let me recap~ Curriculum that is infused with biblical principles, small environment, enrichment, family atmosphere, an incredible staff and a director whose has a passion for kids while also having her doctorate in education. I could go on!

You can go here to learn more about Little Sprouts! I loved that my kids would go to school 3 days a week max, but still get the max amount of learning possible. Last year, they added first grade and it only had 4 kids in the class. This year, they grew to 2nd and 3rd grade, along with creating a new partnership with another church which will allow them to continue to grow and foster children in both education and God! I am so excited for them!

But sad for us.

Had we been there when decision time came around, I might have had a small battle on my hands. Tuition again when we have a free public education down the street? But it would have been so worth it. The battle and the tuition. Plus tuition went down this year!

I think that is why I am so sad. Sad knowing she is going to miss out on a great education in a loving environment that is not overcrowded with kids and overly stressed staff. I would have even welcomed the expectations and responsibilities of the two days at home being part of her curriculum.

But I have to move on. And that is an understatement in so many ways!

I have to make sure I am presenting an excited and positive attitude to her about her new adventure. I want her to have those feelings too.

We meet her teacher later this week and will get more of a sense of what to expect this year. I am planning on getting involved, both with the parent association and her classroom personally. I want the staff to know me and know they can rely on me, as a parent and as a co-educator. I want to know the kids and the parents so I can make better decisions when my daughter is choosing her friends and her play dates.

But a little piece of me just wants her home with me.

OK, a big piece.

The one positive way that I have dealt with this is in the knowing that I will have 2 1/2 days at home with just my son this year. A first for us. He will attend a 2-day program, then another 1/2 day program on Fridays at our church.

I have had the mommy guilt that he just never got the same of me that sister did. The special 1:1 time. So this is our year together and I am really excited about it!

It is my little gem I am holding onto before I even start thinking about him starting Kindergarten next year! Oy vey!!

Well, at least I have a whole year to convince his daddy that our son needs to be the oldest, not the youngest, in his class!!

Stacey

Little Mermaid & Dude Merman

Swim lessons ended over a month ago, but I forgot to post the pics I had set up.

I found the whole experience a little aggravating at times, but I am sure most of that was due to the fact that this was our first "group" swim lesson encounter.

My son's class turned out great. He had a wonderful teacher (my new trainer) and only 5 kids in his class. I had no idea how he would do. Last year, he had his first formal lessons in a 1:1 setting with a great teacher. Unfortunately, he was still in his stage of being terrified of the big water, so we didn't get very far. Officially, that is. The rest of the summer and all this summer, even before lessons, he has been a little fish. No swimming really, but a fish! This year, he took the leader role! He can now jump in, float on his back, loves to be under the water, and can even swim some.

My daughter's class made my head explode with each lesson. Ten kids with one teacher. She had a helper, but was not certified so she did not split the class up. In a 30 minute class, they spent half their time waiting to get their turn. The biggest problem was that they did not set the class up by skill level and it was very evident. They spent almost the first week getting their faces wet, blowing bubbles, and learning how to be underwater. Last year, my daughter learned swim strokes, floating on her back, swimming on her back, etc. I tried to talk to the instructor into the second week, but didn't get very far. Basically, wasted my money there. I think we will just keep working on our own with her. She loves diving which a few in the class learned the last two lessons.








We have continued to enjoy swimming all summer and hope to do so as long as weather permits.

Stacey

OH YES I DID!

As I was quickly checking my emails last night, one of them made me do a double-take.

And then I had to let out my happy squeal!

I was the WINNER of the Kodak ESP 5 All-in-One Printer.

I am shocked, excited, so thankful, and just a little giddy right now!

Thank goodness for random generator because I was number 728!

Thank you 5M4M for hosting another great giveaway, and as always, supporting us moms!

Wow, I may have the contest entering bug again! ;)

Stacey

p.s. Actually, I also won a book this week and can't wait to show it to you and give out a proper thank-you once it arrives!!

Picture it

At the time of my home tour, I did not have the kids' new bedding yet. I searched the Internet until my eyeballs fell out, but am pretty happy with the choices.

I love his bedding! I really wanted a vintage baseball look, but it was so hard to find anything that wasn't priced like diamonds or super cheap looking. I finally found this at The Company Store while it was on sale! I got the comforter cover, fitted sheet, 2 flat sheets, and 2 pillowcases. Yea me!



It was even harder to find something for her. I don't like character bedding for the most part because it can date the bedroom and cause me start over again too soon. Everything else I looked at either didn't fit the colors closely enough in her bedroom or was meant for teenage girls. And since she already thinks she is one, I didn't want to perpetuate her (dis)illusion! I finally scoured Target and we made a decision. I really wanted all the Shabby Chic stuff, but that would have caused my husband to ground me from debit card. Permanently! I think we made a cute choice and she really loves it.



While (sorta) on the subject of sleep, this is what I found the other day after sending the kids to their rooms for quiet time. They were over the top on my nerves bickering and I separated them as they wailed, "I don't wanna take a nap!". I made it perfectly clear that they DID.NOT.HAVE.TO.SLEEP, but I guess they missed that part!

I found him behind his door!




She was completely conked out on her bed!



After a long day of playing and swimming! Right before dinner, of course!



Just because he makes me laugh! That is, when he is not making me crazy!




Stacey